Corrugated carton handle forming machine



Dec. 18, 1956 J. E. MCNAMARA CORRUGATED CARTON HANDLE FORMING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet. l

Filed April 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

Jas-PH f. MC/VHMHRH Y m MAI-' /c Dec. 18, 1956 J. E. MCNAMARA CORRUGATEDCARTON HANDLE FORMING MACHINE Filed April 18, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm,Vv.

1N V EN TOR.

Jos-PH i M AMA/PA BY CORRUGATED CARTON HANDLE FORMING MACmIE Joseph E.McNamara, Detroit, Mieli. Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,921

4 Claims. (Cl. 164-43) This invention relates to `a machine .forlancing` or forming handle portions in corrugated cartons.

Handle forming machines and devices have been employed heretofore tofacilitate forming handle portions in corrugated cartons to providethe'user a convenient hand-hold relative thereto, however, the severaldevices and machines of the prior art have not proven entirelysatisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated in design andconstruction, expensive to manufacture, ditiicult to use, and areusually integrated in the machinewhich originally forms the corrugatedcarton or boxthereby precluding their subsequent use on cartons alreadymade. With the foregoing in view, the primary' object of' the inventionis to provide a handle cutting or forming machine or device which issimple in design andconstuction, inexpensive to manufacture, e'asytouse, safe `to use, easy to store and transport, and which is 'availablefor making handles on already fabricated cartons. v Y An object of theinvention is to provide Va corrugated Vcarton handle forming machinewhich can be manufactured inexpensively as the component parts areeasily made and the assembly of parts readily accomplished.

An object ofthe invention is to provide a handle forining device whichcan be operated with ease and safety by an unskilled or an inexperiencedperson.

An object of the invention is to provideV a corrugated carton handleforming device which can form singlefhandles or a plurality of handlesand in any and` allsizes of corrugated cartons without changes in itsassembly Aor Varrangement of parts.

AnA object of the invention is to provide a corrugated carton formingmachine which quickly forms the dle portion in the carton and frees thecarton from the device so that the carton can readily be `removed objectof the invention is to supply a corrugated carton handle forming machineso that the cartons and boxes at` the superY market. orneighborhood-,store canbe utilized for carrying out the groceries and/orother Yprovisions yinstead of necessitating Vthat' thesecartonsxbedismantled and shippedout at the storey thereby not onlysaving the cost of dismantling and shipping out, `but also the costofthe heavy kraft paper bags of the extremely large size now presentlybeing used.

An object of the invention is to provide a corrugated handle forming,machine which quickly and easily forms handle portions in thecorrugated carton thereby converting the otherwise objectionablecorrugated Ycartonwinto a desirab1e,. easily handled container forthelcustomer to transport his groceries or other provisions .to Vhisvehicle.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent byreference to the followingV description of' a corrugated .carton-handleforming machine'or device enibodying the invention taken in connectionwiththe a'ccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional'vie'w of-theinventiveV device inthe openposition showing a corrugated .cartonportiondisposed therein.

arent l 2,774,424 R'atented Dec. 18, 1956 'ice Fig. 2 is a View similarto Fig. 1 showing the inventive device in the closed position with .thehandle portion lancedf out and crimped for folding back in thecorrugated carton portion. Fig.l 3v is a longitudinal horizontalcross-sectional view ofthe device taken n the'line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. is `a cross sectionalview of the device taken on the line 4 4 ofFig.v 2. d i

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the' device taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2.

` vFig'. 6 is a perspective view of a corrugated carton portion with'vthe handle formed therein.-

7 is' a cross-sectional view' o'f'Fig'. 6 taken on the line 7-K-7'thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a view Vsimilar to Fig. 7 with the lap portion of thelandlefolded back in the use posit'iQn. i Y

Referring howto the drawingswherein ylike numerals refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the' se'veral'vie Ais", the' corrugatedcarton handle' forming machine or'device disclosed therein' toillustrate the invention comprises a frame assembly 1 0 adapted to restVon ai'oor orv other support, a head assembly 11 mounted n'ntne frame'10 adapted to'support the upperkshearin'g and;v crimping portions of thedevice inV spaced felatidnship tothej'frame 10, Yand a lower jaw linkageassembly f2pivo't`a11ymounted nthe franie' 10 adapted 'reistipport thelower shearingv and crimping portions so as to 'cooperate' with the headassembly '.11r d More particularly, the frri'l'e" assembly comprisesspaced parallelyvertical `side plates Y15 ,adapted to rest onth'eirlower edges 17a'1id 16 which' are interconnected at their front ends 18and'19 by a V cross meniber r20 and vat their rear ends- 22 and' 23 by acrossniember 21 adjacent so that the platesi14 and 15 are maintained in.rigid relationship to one another.-

, The plates 14`and 15 are equipped with pairedneck p'or'tonsf24 and 25risingfabove thebgeneral area ofthe plates intermediate the ends thereofand the'head' por- "tionplate 26 sr'nounted on the neck por-,tions 24and and 29 so as vto form a carton portion receivin'gfmoth therebetweenand it `is to be' noted that theV forwardly `c aritilev ered portion ofthe head plate 26 is Vequipped with an opening-defined by a frontsh'ear-ingedgeihside shearing edgesv ,31Y and 3,2, anda rear crimping`edge' 33 and theta resilient member` 34 is disposed intheopening'Y areaas ydefined by the edges so'as`to'be capableo'f urging the-corrugatedcarton cut-out portion downwardly ,outwardly 0f the opening. The cover--plate 90' is' disposed inv spaced: relationship to the headZ-a'ndfoi-'nis a receiving chamber therebetween for receivingv the `cuttingpedges of the lower jaw'teeth.

The lower jaw assembly 12'compr-ises-pai'red lower jaw arms35 and 36pivotallymounted as at 3T and 38 on the side kplates 14 and"1=5 andthesejawarms extend forwardly into the ,area of the opening in the headplate1,6. The-jaw .plate 39 interconnectsfthe jaw arms 35 and 36 at-.fheforward end while' the from shearing toojrh '40', theV side shearingteeth 41` and! 42, and the rear crimp- -ingmmh 4s, are mounted onthe-plate 39 lancl`n1e` 'w plate'and'the teethl 40-43 are indexediandadaptedto co-operate with 4the shearing edges 30, 31 and`32', tog'etherWithlthe crimping edge 33f`de'ning the opening in the' head' plate 26upon the upwardl movement -of the connected' vas at'4 46and 47 tothepairedleverarnisS .the'imperforate `carton portion A6(l,..as seen inFig; 1, isV

converted to a perforate portion as-'seen in Figs 2 and 6 8 whereby thefhandle p'ortionis formed in'the Carton wall. .Y f YItis tobe noted thatwhen the'jaw plate 39 andteeth mounted thereon movegfromlthecantedposition seen in Fig. 1 that tooth members'4ll-43 move arcuatelyrelative to the pivot points 37 and 38 past theshearingedges 30- 32 rsoas! to shear and bite througljttheL carton in a shearing action inthatthe teeth move fromjthe inclined Yor canted .position o fFig.-1arcuatelyrtoV the straight line upright positionas seen in Figi 2 withtheY` resilient lmember 34 depressing the lanced out portion I61 of thehandle Yformed portionof V.the carton area 60; sothat the crimping tooth43 abuts thebottorn of theV plate 26` at the edge ,33 in non-shearing.relationship Vso that the-tooth 43 is capable of scoring the cartonportion at 62, Fig. 7, so that the partially or three sided lanced-outportion 63 can be'folded backY by the user Vfrom the VV'position seenin`Fig. 7 to that of Fig.'V 8 whereby the crimped Aportion62 acts as apivot 'or'hing'e area for Vthe lanced-out portion 63.V A wide Varcuatesmooth area. 64 via the fold back' of the lancedout portion 63 is formedwhereby the user can grip the cartonV at amsmooth large area therebyeliminating sharp Vuttingredges on the 'carton relative to the holdershands the contact between the crimping tooth 43 and the bottom oftheplate 26 also acts as a'stop 'preventing further travel pf the shearingedges and further travel of the actuating 'eversf Y Due to the`fact thatthe paired varms 44 andr45 form thehack of the mouth area, lit isfto benoted that the carton portion 60 cannot be inserted therebeyond so thatthe. lanced-'out handle portionY is always regularly spaced Vrelative'tothe top of the carton forY easilyhandling and proper balance. Twosprings yareV shown infthe'drawings, namely spring V65 and springY 66,which areconnected to the jaw Across plate 67. and to the jaw plate 39and these'two springs are provided to provide anY initial downwardurgersuch' as by the rspring .65 from the positionY seen in Fig. 42 tothat of Fig. ll and the spring 66'is provided'for theflater movementafter the initial urging by the spring 65.

.Obviously'other spring means -such' asa leaf spring 50 and 51- aredisposed be.

. free for removal.

The user then turns the carton `completely over and lances anotherhandle aperture on the urging Vthe .jaw linkage assembly' to theinactive position c an be employed or a weight can'be used to urge thejaw linkage assembly. to the open position, however, it has beenfound-that theV instant spring assembly,4 as shown,

Yis adequate to draw'the teeth out ofthe cartonV and leave the cartonfree for removal from the device after the handlehas Ybeen formed in thecarton.

In use, the userY takes the edge of a carton and inserts it into thedevice, Fig. l, untilthe topV thereof rabuts the arms 44 land 45 oranother stop, the .operator then places his Yfoot on Vthe'pardr54depressing same so as to cause thefront ends 50 and '51 Vof the leverarms to move upwardly under the jaw plate 39 as to urge the teeth 40443upwardly so as to Vcarry the carton ,portions .against the headplategr26 whereby'theY teethpshear Vagainst .the

other side and the carton is then ready for use as a container witheasily used handle portions.

The inventive handle forming device or machine pai'-V ticularly suitableforcorrugated'cartons and boxes with the features described constitutesa compact, durable, neat appearing mechanism, easily and quicklyoperated to form handle apertures in corrugated boxes and cartons sothat not only are useful handles formed but handles are formed with aprofessional or manufactured appearance as attractive as though muchlaborious time has been consumed in forming the handles. Y

It Vis to be particularly noted that the tooth 40 is equipped withleading edges 81 and 82, and a lower center i. portion 83 which followsthe initial puncture elfected by the leading edges 81 and 82 and thatthese leading edges lead the .side'cuttingteeth 31 and.32 so thattheside. cutting teeth take overthe shearing ofthe cartonV after theleading edges have made the initial puncture. The scoring Vor crimpingedge acts as a stop Vafter thejshearinghas been accomplished.

Although but a single embodimentof the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, it is iobvious that many changes may be made in thesizeshape, detail, and arrangements of the various elements oftheinvention within the scope `of the appended claims. For example, onelever arm and/or one jaw arm could be used,

I claim:

1. A corrugated cartonvharndle forming machine coni- `Y prising spacedparallel vertical side plates having lower edges formingvassupportingbase, a front end, a rear end, Y

upperedges on said plates, means interconnecting said plates adjacenttheir lower edges, neck portions on Vsaid` plates intermediatethe Vendsthereof rising above said plates, a head portiondisposed between saidVplate neck portions and cantilevered forward to a point adjacent thefront ends of said plates in spacedV parallel relationship to saidVplates upper edges ,forming an .open'carton edge Y receiving mouththerebetween with the cantilevered portion of saidV head constituting anupper jaw; said head jaw portion havingv an opening adjacent the endthereof ydelined by shearingv edges on the front and sides and a Ycrimping edge at the rear; a top plate disposedover said head.in spacedrelationship relative thereto forming a protective cover oversaid'opening and a receiving chambertlerebetween for lower jaw teeth,paired lower jaw arms pivotally mounted Yon said side' plates adjacentthe rear Vthereof and ,having ends extending forwardlyVV to a pointadjacent said Ahead opening, Va lower jaw plate interconnecting theextending ends of Ysaid arms, shearing teeth on said lower jaw plate onthe front'and sides thereof and a crimping tooth atl the rear thereofadapted toreo-operate 'with said head opening corresponding portions;pairedV lever arms having front'and rear ends pivotally mountedVintermediate the ends thereofY adjacentV the front ends thereof; saidlever arms front ends being slidably VYdisposed beneath said lower jawplate; a padV member interconnecting'said leverv arm rear ends, a springmounted on said Ylower jaw -adaptedto urge saidl lower jaw and asso`ciated linkage out oli-associationV with said head to maintain the moutharea normallyropen, andra resilient mexnber in said head opening areaadapted to v prevent the lanced and crimped portion of a carton fromentering said head opening.

edges 30-33 and lance areas 70, 71, and 72 through the cartonformingbottom and side portions of the handle area and to crimp or score anarea 73 forming the top or handle holding area such as designated bythenum'eral 64 of Fig. 8. Upon the handle opening being so formed,

2. A corrugated carton handle forming machine comprising spaced parallelvertical side plates having lower edges forming'a supporting base, afrontend, arear end, and upper'edg'es'on'said plates, meansinterconnecting said plates adjacent their Ylower edges, neck portions.on saidplates intermediate the ends thereof .rising above said plates,a head portion disposed between said plate neck portions'andcantileveredY forward to a point adjacent the front ends of said platesin spaced parallel relationship to said plates upper .edges forming anopen carton edge receiving mouth therebetween with the cantileveredportion of said head constituting an upper jaw; said head jaw portionhaving an opening adjacent the end thereof defined by shearing edges onthe front and sides and a crimping edge at the rear; a top platedisposed over said head in spaced relationship relative thereto forminga protective cover over said opening and a receiving chambertherebetween for lower jaw teeth, paired lower jaw arms pivotallymounted on said side plates adjacent the rear thereof and having endsextending forwardly to a point adjacent said head opening, a lower jawplate interconnecting the extending ends of said arms, shearing teeth onsaid lower jaw plate on the front and sides thereof and a crimping toothat the rear thereof adapted to co-operate with said head openingcorresponding portions; paired lever arms having front and rear endspivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof adjacent the front endsthereof; said lever arms front ends being slidably disposed beneath saidlower jaw plate; a pad member interconnecting said lever arm rear ends,a spring mounted on said lower jaw adapted to urge said lower jaw andassociated linkage out of association with said head to maintain themouth area normally open, and a resilient member in said head openingarea adapted to prevent the lanced and crimped portion of a carton fromentering said head opening; said shearing teeth on said lower jaw platebeing elongated at the leading corners so as to initially pierce thecarton portion and then shear out a three-sided tab.

3. A corrugated carton handle forming machine comprising spaced parallelvertical side plates having lower edges forming a supporting base, afront end, a rear end, and upper edges on said plates, meansinterconnecting said plates adjacent their lower edges, neck portions onsaid plates intermediate the ends thereof rising above said plates, ahead portion disposed between said plate neck portions and cantileveredforward to a point adjacent the front ends of said plates in spacedparallel relationship to said plates upper edges forming an open cartonedge receiving mouth therebetween with the cantilevered portion of saidhead constituting an upper jaw; said head jaw portion having an openingadjacent the end thereof defined by shearing edges on the front andsides and a crimping edge at the rear; paired lower jaw arms pivotallymounted on said side plates adjacent the rear thereof and having endsextending forwardly to a point adjacent said head opening, a lower jawplate interconnecting the extending ends of said arms, shearing teeth onsaid lower jaw plate on the front and sides thereof and a crimping toothat the rear thereof adapted to co-operate with said head openingcorresponding portions; paired lever arms having front and rear endspivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof adjacent the front endsthereof; said lever arms front ends being slidably disposed beneath saidlower jaw plate; a pad member interconnecting said lever arm rear ends,a spring mounted on said lower jaw adapted to urge said lower jaw andassociated linkage out of association with said head to maintain themouth area normally open, and a resilient member in said head openingarea adapted to prevent the lanced and crimped portion of a carton fromentering said head opening.

4. A corrugated carton handle forming machine comprising spaced parallelvertical side plates having lower edges forming a supporting base, afront end, a rear end, and upper edges on said plates, meansinterconnecting said plates adjacent their lower edges, neck portions onsaid plates intermediate the ends thereof rising above Said plates, ahead portion disposed between said plate neck portions and cantileveredforward to a point adjacent the front ends of said plates in spacedparallel relationship to said plates adjacent upper Yedges forming anopen carton edge receiving mouth therebetween with the cantileveredportion of said head constituting an upper jaw; said head jaw portionhaving an opening adjacent the end thereof dened by shearing edges onthe front and sides and a stop constituting a crimping edge at the rear;paired lower jaw arms pivotally mounted on said side plates adjacent therear thereof and having ends extending forwardly to a point adjacentsaid head opening, a lower jaw plate interconnecting the extending endsof said arms, shearing teeth on said lower jaw plate on the front andsides thereof and a crimping tooth at the rear thereof adapted toco-operate with said head opening corresponding portions; paired leverarms having front and rear ends pivotally mounted intermediate the endsthereof adjacent the front ends thereof; said lever arms front endsbeing slidably disposed beneath said lower jaw plate; a spring mountedon said lower jaw adapted to urge said lower jaw and associated linkageout of association with said head to maintain the mouth area normallyopen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS980,787 Hurd `Tan. 3, 1911 1,055,680 Stacy Mar. 11, 1913 1,188,429Farrow June 27, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,027 Great Britain of 1913359,869 Germany Sept. 28, 1922 271,950 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1951

